No job prospects, no future, no hope. Where I live there are no jobs unless you know someone. Years have gone by and I am still stuck in same position. I could have done course after course and it would all be for nothing because it is experience that leads to employment. When there are no jobs it is bad luck there are no jobs and you are stuck on welfare, charity, begging on streets or whatever it takes to survive.

Unless you know the right people, finding employment is near impossible and relies a lot on luck of being in the right place at the right time. The employment services were terrible they could not help with cover letters, could not assist with resumes or set me up with employment positions. It was man up, get over it and toughen up princess. I mass mailed job ads and sounded really desperate and offered to work for free but no responses.

The longer I was unemployed the more unemployable I became hopeless, anxious, depressed, embarrassed and ashamed. Long term unemployment sucked the life out of me. I could not believe that I bothered with education an completed diploma, advanced diploma and degree in Accounting to end up unemployed and too old to do retail/fast food jobs that get filled by younger people. Education for me was an absolutely waste of time and I wish I took a fast food/retail job at 15 or 16 and stuck with that instead of bothering with education.

Has anyone else experienced unemployment or worse long term unemployed and realised they wasted their life completing a degree to end up unemployable?

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Firstly, if there's no jobs where you live why not look for jobs further afield and move if you have to?

Secondly, if you sounded desperate and were begging to work for free can you really be surprised that nobody wanted you?

Anyways, I've never had that problem myself. Walked into a job as soon as I left school, it was the place I did my work experience and they wanted me to come back, so I did. Later went to uni, got a degree and within about a month of searching for a job and a total of 2 interviews I got the job I'm in now.

Yes, I know that feeling. I had a hard time finding a job after university. It was very similar like you describe it. Experience is desired but without a job you can't get experience. It really sucks and it feels like you've been stigmatised.

I wish you alle the best and hope you never give up because one day it will work out.

Yeah. Not falling for your pity party if that is what you are hoping, there is tons of work available.

Everything you have complained about is essentially your own fault, starting being proactive, take charge of your own life, get professional help.

That really depends where he is.

There are a lot of bludgers out there to be sure. But long-term unemployment is a genuinely challenging problem.

It often starts with people not being able to find the perfect job, then a good job, then a non-degrading job that covers the bills, then a degrading job that covers the bills.

All through that process their skills and confidence are atrophying. They may be starting to develop serious mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Their physical health is likely worsening, given the proven link between long-term unemployment and chronic health issues.

I've no idea what the OP's situation is, and I am fortunate never to have experienced long-term unemployment. But I have certainly witnessed its devastating effects.

And this is why I'm so tempted to quit college altogether, there's just no point - especially in my line of work.

To those saying he should get his shit together, or "just" move elsewhere if there's no work where he lives... don't. You don't know what his life's like, or where he lives. Not everyone can afford to just move somewhere else to get a job. Not everyone can get a job just by being "proactive" (god I hate that word). And definitely, most certainly, not every place has tons of work available - certainly not where I live. I've seen the effects of long-term unemployment on people and yeah, it's definitely not an easy thing to deal with. To dismiss it the way some are doing here is pretty much the same thing as telling someone to just "get over" a depression.

As for me personally, well, technically I'm unemployed, though I've been helping my parents out with their work for about a year now. I don't get paid much, but since I still live with them it doesn't really matter. If I had to look after myself, though? Yeah, probably depression.

Edit: and in the meantime, well, I'll continue working on my own music, which I hope will one day make my living. I mean, the thread could do without some shameless advertising, but I just finished this song yesterday, so I can't help it. That said, the lyrics and general melacholic vibe of the song definitely feel on-topic enough.

Yeah. Not falling for your pity party if that is what you are hoping, there is tons of work available.

Everything you have complained about is essentially your own fault, starting being proactive, take charge of your own life, get professional help.

That really depends where he is.

There are a lot of bludgers out there to be sure. But long-term unemployment is a genuinely challenging problem.

It often starts with people not being able to find the perfect job, then a good job, then a non-degrading job that covers the bills, then a degrading job that covers the bills.

All through that process their skills and confidence are atrophying. They may be starting to develop serious mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Their physical health is likely worsening, given the proven link between long-term unemployment and chronic health issues.

I've no idea what the OP's situation is, and I am fortunate never to have experienced long-term unemployment. But I have certainly witnessed its devastating effects.

Perth. AFAIK. - There is a ton of jobs over there.This is not the first thread he has made describing these issues... However, the crux is... He won't listen to advice from those who have experience or expertise on certain topics, hence why I have zero sympathy for his current self-inflicted situation.

Plus he refused to work certain jobs as he believed they were "beneath him". - At the end of the day... A job is a job, you have to start from the bottom and work your way up... Doesn't matter what that job is, get your hands dirty, sit at a desk all day... Doesn't matter... It beats sitting on the dole and stagnating in life.

It's like when people try to join the fire station, they don't realize that you don't get to jump on the truck and go to a rescue job on the first day, you have to work for that and damn hard too, that is provided if they will even consider you for any kind of position to start with. - Best bet is to join a volunteer agency first, get some experience and training and focus on your health (Mental and Physical) before going for a professional paid position.

Start from the bottom, work your way up, Shit. I left home with only the shirt on my back, no money, only year 10 high-school, no experience, no house or car...

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Sure, mental health is an issue, hence why I stipulated that he should seek professional help. (I suggested this also months ago, so obviously nothing has changed.)

My view on this probably seems harsh or abrasive, but sometimes a harsh kick of reality is what an individual needs to get motivated.

Plus he refused to work certain jobs as he believed they were "beneath him". - At the end of the day... A job is a job, you have to start from the bottom and work your way up... Doesn't matter what that job is, get your hands dirty, sit at a desk all day... Doesn't matter... It beats sitting on the dole and stagnating in life.

Start from the bottom, work your way up, Shit. I left home with only the shirt on my back, no money, only year 10 high-school, no experience, no house or car...

Well then, of course you didn't think any job was "beneath" you, since you didn't have a degree in the first place. It's easier to "start from the bottom" when you're already there in the first place - when you dedicate several years of your adult life to studying, though, it's only reasonable to expect a decent job in the area of work you've specialized in.

See, for me personally, I don't really mind doing random design stuff for my parents, just like I wouldn't mind working at some retailer or something similarly "lowly". However, if it has to do with music, I'm definitely not taking anything, I want something that fits me and/or will make me learn new things to improve my own skills. That's normal.